What are the Islamic and obligatory Muslim prayers, and why are they important?

Islamic or Muslim prayers

Islamic or Muslim prayers in Islam are of prime importance, like the backbone of a body. In Arabic, it’s called Salah or Salāt صَلاة and in Urdu it’s called Namaz. Prayers are like a spiritual connection between Allah and a human beings. Allah has blessed Muslims with this obligatory prayers that fosters the close relationship between Allah and Muslims. Islamic or Muslim prayers are a Holy act to perform a specific type of supplications five times a day or some other voluntary prayers to grant more blessings.

It’s a supreme act of displaying bondage in front of Allah. We can distinguish by a specific set of rules and regulations associated with the timings, directions, order, and frequency of their offering actions.

How many types of Muslim prayers/ salat in Islam?

What are the Muslim prayers in order?

There are four different types of prayers in Islam, Fard or Obligatory prayers , Wajib or Required prayers, Sunnah, and Nafl Salah (Voluntary prayers). So let’s dive in to learn more about them in the sections below.

• Fard Salat or obligatory Muslim prayers

Fard Salat are one of the beliefs of Islam and are compulsory for every Muslim. Muslims perform these fard or obligatory prayers five times a day at their specific time. Someone becomes a sinner if they do not fulfill their obligatory prayer salah offering. what are there five prayers in Islam? The details of these five obligatory prayers are below.

Salat al-Fajr  (Morning or Dawn Prayer)

Fajar is the first prayer Muslims offer in the morning, and thanks to ALLAH for granting them one more new day of life. In this prayer, Muslims offer two sunnah and two fard.

The order of performing these Rak’ah is that sunnahs first and then two fard after that.

Salat al-Dhuhr/ Zuhr  (The Noon Prayer)

Zuhr prayer consists of 12 rakahs, and we offer it in the noon. The four rakahs of Sunnat, the four rakahs of fard, the two rakahs of sunnah, and then the two last rakahs of nafl are part of this prayer in this given order.

Salat al-Asr (The late afternoon prayer)

Asr prayer time starts in the late afternoon, we offer eight rakahs, first performing four sunnahs and then the four obligatory rakahs or fard.

Salat al-Maghrib   (The Sunset Prayer)

The Maghrib prayer is composed of 7 rakahs. Its time begins after the sunset. The time duration for this prayer is very short.  You have to be hurrying to catch this prayer.  The sequence is three obligatory rakahs, two sunnahs, and two nawafil.

Salat al-Isha (The night prayer)

The Isha prayer is the fifth and last obligatory prayer of the day. Muslims perform it at night and seek the blessings of Allah. It consists of 4 sunnah, 4 fard, 2 sunnah, 2 nafal, 3 odd numbers of witr rakahs, and 2 nafal. It’s mandatory to read Dua e Qanoot in the last raka’at of the three Witr.

Performing five daily prayers is an appreciative, noble need and a crucial obligation for a Muslim. And the person (man or woman) who doesn’t practice daily prayers is a sinner and a loser of the blessings of Allah.

• Wajib or required prayers

The wajib prayers are those that are mandatory to be performed by Muslims.  But if you don’t perform, you will be sinful. The Jumma  and the witr of Isha are two examples.

• Sunnah prayers

Sunnah prayers are those that our last Prophet always performed. These special prayers are part of the Fard and the great reward for al-Ākhirah (Arabic: الآخرة, (the life hereafter). These are the ritual prayers done before or after obligatory prayers. 

• Nafl or voluntary prayers

Muslims offer Nafl as a volunteer prayer to seek the most of Allah’s blessings and Allah has kept a very special reward for those who offer Nafl. Some of the Nafl is part of every daily fard prayer and some can be additionally performed daily or on special days/nights.

Tahajjud (2-12 rakahs after isha at late night), Ishraq (1 hour after sunrise until before noon) when the sun is at its highest point), Awwabin (between maghrib and isha prayers/after maghrib prayer), Tahayyat al-Masjid (2 rakahs before entering the mosque), and Tahayyat al-Wudhu (2 rakahs after entering the mosque). In the month of Ramadan Muslims offer 20 rakaat as Tarweeh.

Allah has blessed us with some very unique nights like Shab e Bara’at, Shab e Qadar, Shab e Meraj, etc. Performing Nafl on these holy nights are a great source of getting blessings or reward (in Urdu Sawab). Muslims from all over the world read nafl sala’at and seek Allah’s blessings.

How can you find prayer timings in your region?

Every geographical region has different salah or prayer times based on the movement of the sun and moon as well as the day and night schedule. You can easily find your Salah’s right times by simplifying your typing into Google; for example, people in New York or Columbia can search as follows: “What is the prayer timing in NYC (New York City)?” or “What is the prayer timing in Columbia?” So you can find the correct prayer time based on the standard timings in your area.

Summary of the Muslim prayers in Tabular Form

FAQs:

Is it mandatory or compulsory to pray the Fard Salat?

Yes, fard, or the obligatory cycles of all the prayers, are mandatory five times a day. Without offering Fard, there is no prayer to be done. In addition to Fard, there are sunnah and nawafil (voluntary). If one provides these voluntary salat, he will be compensated. But if someone doesn’t, he will not be penalized for nawafil. 

Is the Duhr include in Jumma or Friday salah?

On Friday, the duhr salah includes in Friday prayer. It is performed only in Jama’at, and there is a minimum size requirement for the congregation needed for it. There is no duhr prayer for those who offered two rakahs of fard in Friday prayer. If someone missed the Jummah salah for any reason then he will perform the Zuhr/Duhr salah instead.

What is the objective of the call of Adhan to prayer in Islam?

The adhan is pronounced five times a day to encourage Muslims to perform obligatory prayer and leave worldly affairs behind. In Muslim-majority countries, it is usual to hear the call to prayer in public.

Allah has blessed the Muslim Ummah with this ease in saying a prayer. Whenever the right time for prayer comes, any Muslim can offer prayer at his home or masjid. For men, it is an obligation to gather at the mosque to offer prayer in Jamat and form women, at home.

Why is prayer important in Islam?

Prayer is so much important in Islam to offer five times in a day. It connects Muslms to Allah to accept his oneness and follow the steps of Prophets.

Conclusion

As being Muslims, we are so grateful to Allah Subhana Wa Ta’ala for granting us the blessed prayers. In Islam, prayer is regarded as the cornerstone for the other elements of Islamic teachings and obligations. However, there are various types of prayers in Islam, including farz, wajib, nafl, and other non-obligatory kinds of prayers. The obligatory or “farz” prayers are regarded as musts for Muslims in them. May Allah give us the power to respond quickly and offer prayer on the very first call for azan. Everyone, have a blessed day.